A 40-storey hotel in the harbour at Barangaroo will reflect the site’s ”industrial heritage” and will be a ”quasi-public space” the developer has said in response to overwhelmingly negative public submissions about the proposed redevelopment.
Lend Lease has responded to more than 200 public and agency submissions.
More than three-quarters of the submissions received by the Department of Planning objected to aspects of the proposal, which is now waiting assessment by the minister under ”part 3A” or ”state significant” planning laws.
Under Part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act , a proponent must respond to concerns by modifying the proposal or providing a reason for proceeding.
The developer rejected the claim the pier hotel would set a precedent or result in the privatisation of the harbour.
”Two of Sydney’s reclaimed piers contain hotels - at Pier One in Walsh Bay and the finger wharf at Woolloomooloo Bay,” it said. ” … A hotel is a quasi-public public space, with restaurants, bars, function rooms and other facilities designed to attract visitors …”
The response states that while the objections to the hotel from groups including the City of Sydney and the National Trust had been noted, they appeared to reflect ”different objectives … for the regeneration of this … part of the CBD”.
Lend Lease rejected a call from the council for 10 per cent of the housing to be designated affordable housing, instead reiterating a commitment to provide 2.3 per cent of ”intermediate housing”, which would be made available to key workers earning $30,000 to $90,000 a year.
In response to height concerns, the developer pointed out its tallest building would be only the sixth-tallest in Sydney.
Lend Lease has made modifications in response to the submissions, including introducing minimum distances between some towers to improve view corridors to the water, the replacement of ”gallerias” with public lanes, and building controls for the hotel drop-off point.
One of the commercial towers, known as C5, has had its length reduced from 90 metres to 85.5 metres, though its width has now increased from 25 metres to 30 metres.
A spokeswoman for the City of Sydney said the council was concerned the amendments could result in larger floorplates. ”It does not appear that the Lend Lease response addresses the majority of submissions concerned about density and scale that is unprecedented in NSW,” she said.
